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Warren talks about Social Security, jobs, student loan debt at stop in Lunenburg

By Jack Minch, jminch@sentinelandenterprise.com

Updated:
10/20/2012 07:00:23 AM EDT

LUNENBURG -- Democratic Senatorial candidate Elizabeth Warren's supporters greeted her like a star during a campaign stop at Donnelly's Tavern on Summer Street where she vowed to remain strong through the final days of a hard campaign Friday.

"I am not afraid," she told cheering supporters. "I am not afraid because I am not alone, I have you."

She described the Republican party as a group that believes the wealthy should be exempt from paying taxes and Democrats as those willing to pay their fair share.

"I can't believe I'm saying this in this day and age but we believe in equal pay for equal work," Warren told cheering supporters.

Warren touted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau she helped establish which has already forced credit card companies to return more than $500 million to consumers.

Warren's supporters crossed the spectrum of age.

The issue of college graduates who are saddled with huge loan debts needs to be addressed while Medicare and Social Security must be protected, she said.

Warren arrived in a hybrid SUV and ran through the rain to the restaurant where she met state Sen. Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster, with a hug before greeting her supporters.

Student loan debt, Social Security, the Affordable Care Act and the American Jobs Act are important themes she heard while greeting supporters, Warren said.

Warren objected to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's claims that President Obama is cutting $716 billion from Medicare and decried Brown's support of Romney.

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"I am stunned Mitt Romney would base a central point of his campaign on something that is false and that Scott Brown would accept it," Warren said.

Rich Brow, of Leominster, is an out of work member of the Local 107 carpenters union, and jobs creation is an important issue, he said.

He is upset incumbent Sen. Scott Brown opposed the American Jobs Act that he believes would create 11,000 jobs to improve infrastructure and another 4,900 for building or renovating schools.

Brow said Warren is a more down to earth person.

"She has her feet on the ground and I think she would fit into our community very well," he said.

Ingrid and Robert Adam, of Shirley, said it was exciting to see Warren deliver her message from a couple feet away rather than through a television.

They are motivated by Warren's values and her sense of presence.

"Being in Congress, you have to have a presence as well as values and I think she has both," said Ingrid Adam, who is a member of the Shirley Democratic Committee.

Andy Gordon, of Leominster, said he is a member of the 47 percent and believes Warren will protect his interests which include Social Security and Medicare as well as the welfare of younger generations.

"All the sacrifices we made can be obliterated by the 1 percent," he said.

Jonathan Kimmey, of Pepperell, is a Townsend firefighter and a counselor at Fitchburg High School.

Kimmey said it is true that Warren is much more personable in person than she is on a stage.

He also expressed dissatisfaction with the growing ugliness of the campaign.

He started supporting Warren after watching a YouTube video of Warren saying nobody can be successful without help from others.

"What you can do individually pales in comparison to what you can do together," Kimmey said. "It's called synergy."

Fitchburg State University students Matt Costello, of Raynham, and Angela Szymcik, of Templeton, said Warren relates well to working class people even though she is highly educated.

They are concerned about the issue of student loan debt.

"I just think she's a better candidate for the middle class," Costello said.

Susan Conroy, of Lunenburg, said she likes Warren's track record with the consumer agency.

"I think she's a tough woman and can get the job done," Conroy said. "And I'm very unhappy with Scott Brown's voting record."

Shannon Donnelly recently graduated Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., with a major in psychology and Warren got her support with her concern about the student loan issue.

She helped arrange the campaign stop.

"She seemed so excited to be here and wanted to be here," Donnelly said as she stood by her mother Erin and grandmother Marguerite Donnelly.

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